Sense oligonucleotide capable of controlling the expression of INOS and composition comprising the same

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to sense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to a single-stranded RNA (antisense transcript) having a sequence complementary to mRNA of iNOS gene in order to control expression of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase). The sense oligonucleotide of the present invention can control expression of iNOS and is useful for biological defense and treatment and prevention of diseases related to excessive production of NO, such as cancerogenesis, inflammatory disease, endotoxin shock by bacterial infection and the like.

CROSS REFERENCES

This is a continuation application of U.S. application Ser. No. 12/303,914 (now allowed), filed Dec. 8, 2008 which is based on PCT/JP2007/061565 filed Jun. 7, 2007 and claims priority from Japanese Patent Applications No. 2006-159730 filed Jun. 8, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated hereinto by reference. All references cited herein are incorporated in their entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to sense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to a single-stranded RNA (antisense transcript) having a base sequence complementary to mRNA of iNOS gene in order to control expression of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase).

BACKGROUND ART

Nitric oxide (NO) in vivo is said to be produced from various parts of the body, such as macrophage, endocapillary cells, and neural regions. Its actions include bacteria-killing action, vascular relaxation action and neural information transmission.

Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) mediates when nitric monoxide is produced. NOS is classified into three groups such as inducible NOS (iNOS), neuronal NOS (nNOS), and endothelial NOS (eNOS) according to the place where it acts. Especially, NO produced by iNOS maintains its activity for long time and the production amount of NO is large (more than 1 μM) as compared with NO produced by the other synthetic system of NO; neuronal NOS and endothelial NOS.

iNOS is mainly expressed when macrophage, endocapillary cell, vessel smooth muscle cell, gastrointestinal epithelia cell, bronchial epithelial cell, hepatocyte, microglial cell or the like is attacked by inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β (Interleukin-1β), TNF-α (Tumor Necrosis Factor-α) and, IFN-γ (Interferon-γ) which are produced by cytotoxin, infection or inflammatory focus, to produce NO. Excessively produced NO performs as a main inflammatory mediator in the protective response to infection in the live body.

The expression of iNOS occurs along with inflammatory reaction, or the infection of various pathogens such as fungus, virus and protozoa. For example, it is known that iNOS is induced by stimulation of a universal component of gram-negative bacterium, lipopolysaccharide (LPS), or a component of gram-positive bacterium cell walls, lipoteichoic acid (LTA), or through indirect production induction of inflammatory cytokines. Recently, it has been revealed that NO synthesis is incerased by in vivo propagation of various viruses. In this case, it has been found that iNOS is induced through production of inflammatory cytokines such as IL-1β or IFN-γ.

NO derived from iNOS shows bacteria-killing, antiviral, antiparasite and antineoplastic activities and is essential to life in biological system. However, if iNOS is activated by inflammatory reactions and the like to produce excessive NO, the NO reacts with active oxygen to generate peroxynitrite or nitrite peroxide which damages DNAs, resulting in negative effects such as mutation and cancerogenesis.

It has been found that excessive expression of iNOS due to various factors which leads to excessive production of NO, causes toxic shock, or various diseases such as systemic decreased blood pressure, decrease in blood pressure response, auto immune diseases, inflammation, arthritis, rheumatic arthritis, diabetes, inflammatory bowel disease, vessel dysfunction, pathogenic vascular dilatation, tissue failure, ischemia of cardiovascular system, hyperpathia, cerebral ischemia, cachexia, and cancer.

Accordingly, controlling the expression of iNOS is very important in biological defense, and in treatment and prevention of diseases related to excessive production of NO, such as cancerogenesis, inflammatory disease, endotoxin shock through bacterial infection or the like.

Conventionally, a method called RNAi (RNA interference), where transcription is repressed by cutting target mRNA in a double-stranded RNA, has been known. Usually, RNAi involves base length of about 20 base pairs and a screening method for its double-stranded oligonucleotide and antisense RNA has been disclosed (Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-13224).

Also, compounds useful in controlling interleukin genes, interleukin superfamily genes, expression of genes and/or expression and activities of genes involved in interleukin routes of activities, by RNA interference (RNAi) using small nucleic acid molecules such as short interfering nucleic acid (siNA), short interfering RNA (siRNA), double-stranded RNA (dsRNA), microRNA (miRNA), and short hairpin RNA (shRNA) molecules have been disclosed (Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-524393).

If antisense RNA exists in a cell, gene expression can be inhibited by hybridizing with complementary mRNA to inhibit translation from mRNA to proteins. If antisense RNA is artificially introduced into a cell, expression of target gene can be inhibited. Therefore, this technique is currently used as a technique shedding light on gene functions and its application into medicinal products has been studied. With respect to iNOS gene, existence of antisense RNA has not been confirmed so far. Further, existence of protein which contributes to stabilization of mRNA in transcription from mRNA has been suggested (non-patent document 1: Eur. J. Pharmacol. 500: 255-266 (2004)). However, the detail is unclear, and there are many points unclear as to controlling of the expression of iNOS.

-   [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.     2005-13224 -   [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.     2005-524393 -   [Non-patent Document 1] Eur. J. Pharmacol. 500: 255-266 (2004)

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Problem to be Solved by Invention

The present invention provides sense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to a single-stranded RNA (antisense transcript) having a sequence complementary to mRNA of iNOS gene in order to control of the expression of iNOS.

Means for Solving the Problem

The present inventors have found out that there are some cases where a single-stranded RNA (antisense transcript) having a sequence complementary to mRNA is present in a cell, which is different from conventional antisense RNA and contributes to stabilization of mRNA. Based on this finding, they filed the patent application of the present invention on the same date.

The present inventors have devoted themselves to study iNOS expression control, and as a result, they have found out a method of interfering stabilization of mRNA by hybridizing the above sense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to a single-stranded RNA (antisense transcript) to antisense transcript to thereby suppress its activities, whereby controlling expression of iNOS to suppress excessive production of NO. Thus, they have completed the present invention.

That is, the present invention relates to sense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to iNOS mRNA antisense RNA (antisense transcript of iNOS mRNA), a composition having activity of suppressing NO production, and a method for controlling a production amount of iNOS.

-   1. A sense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to iNOS     mRNA antisense RNA (antisense transcript of iNOS mRNA) having a     sequence complementary to iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase)     mRNA. -   2. The sense oligonucleotide according to 1, having a sequence     complementary to the above iNOS mRNA antisense RNA (antisense     transcript of iNOS mRNA) containing a nucleic acid shown as SEQ ID     NO: 1. -   3. The sense oligonucleotide according to 1 or 2, having a sequence     complementary to a region corresponding to a thermodynamically     unstable loop structure. -   4. The sense oligonucleotide according to any one of 1 to 3, having     base length of 16 bases to 335 bases. -   5. The sense oligonucleotide according to any one of 1 to 4 and     derivatives thereof stabilized against decomposition by nucleolytic     enzyme. -   6. The sense oligonucleotide according to 5, wherein the     stabilization is performed by modifications such as LNA, PNA ENA,     Morpholino and others. -   7. A composition containing the sense oligonucleotide according to     any one of 1 to 6 having activity of suppressing production of NO     which promotes decomposition of iNOS mRNA. -   8. A method of controlling a production amount of iNOS, wherein     sense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to iNOS mRNA     antisense RNA (antisense transcript of iNOS mRNA) is introduced in     the cell.

Effect of Invention

Sense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to antisense transcript having a sequence complementary to iNOS mRNA of the present invention, its phosphorothioate type, that is, phosphorothioate sense oligo can be used as a medical composition that is, medication, or as a health food composition, that is, health food which is effective for inflammatory diseases related to excessive production of NO, endotoxin shock by bacterial infection, cancerogenesis and the like.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The present invention, by using a sense oligonucleotide having a sequence complementary to a single-stranded RNA (antisense transcript) having a sequence complementary to iNOS mRNA which contributes to stabilization of iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) mRNA and hybridizing to antisense transcript to suppress its action, interferes stabilization of mRNA, controls expression of iNOS to thereby suppress excessive production of NO.

A single-stranded RNA having a sequence complementary to iNOS mRNA is a nucleotide containing a base sequence which is identical to or substantially identical to a base sequence represented by SEQ ID NO: 1. The nucleotide having a “substantially” identical sequence is a substance containing SEQ ID NO: 1 or containing a sequence having homology of 75% or more, preferably 90% or more, more preferably 95% or more with SEQ ID NO: 1, which increases synthesis amount of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and can be prepared through chemical synthesis, a known expression method and purification or methods described in Examples.

The sense oligonucleotide (hereinafter “the senseoligo of the invention”) in the present invention having a sequence complementary to a antisense transcript of iNOS mRNA is an oligonucleotide hybridizable to the antisense transcript or a derivative thereof. The sense oligo has only to be modified not to be decomposed by nucleolytic enzyme in the nucleus.

Designing of sense oligo can be made with a program “mfold” disclosed in Nucleic Acids Res. 31, 3406-3415 (2003) and in J. Mol. Biol. 288, 911-940 (1999) (see http://www.bioinfo.rpi.edu/˜zukerm/rna/) by predicting a secondary structure of RNA. As candidate sequence for the sense oligo, a sense oligonucleotide is designed for portions thermodynamically unstable (for example, non-stem region in a stem-loop structure), preferably a portion including a loop in the stem-loop structure.

With respect to the above candidate sequence of the sense oligo, a sequence not including a sequence which causes sequence-nonspecific reaction in a cell, such as 5′-CG-3′,5′-GGGG-3′ or 5′-GGGGG-3′ is selected. Further, after confirming that no analogous sequence exists by conducting homology search in the rat genome, a preferred sequence is selected (see J. Neurochem. 86, 374-382 (2003)).

Examples of sense oligo represented by Sequence Nos. 2 to 4 include the following oligonucleotides.

(Modifications of the following sequences are omitted here.)

(SEQ ID NO: 36) 5′-GCCTCATACTTCCTCAGAGC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 37) 5′-TAGCTGCATTGTGTACAGAT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 38) 5′-GTGTATAATTCCTTGATGAA-3′

These can be prepared by chemical synthesis, known expression or purification methods, or methods described in Examples.

There is no particular limitation on modifications of the senseoligo of the invention as long as the sense oligo is modified not to be decomposed by nucleolytic enzyme present in the nucleus. In a cell, a sense oligonucleotide is digested from both ends by an enzyme, exonuclease, which removes nucleotides sequentially from the 5′end and 3′end. For example, it is preferable that the sense oligo be modified to be a phosphorothioate type stable to degrading enzymes, in which one or more phosphate bonds P═O from both ends are substituted with P═S. (Hereinafter, this is referred to as “phosphorothioate sense oligonucleotide (phosphorothioate sense oligo).) (See J. Neurochem. 86, 374-382 (2003).) However, if all phosphate bonds are modified into phosphorothioate, optical isomers are generated, which is disadvantageous in light of hybridization.

Examples of phosphorothioate sense oligonucleotide (phosphorothioate sense oligo) include

(SEQ ID NO: 36) 5′-G*C*C*TCATACTTCCTCAG*A*G*C-3′, (SEQ ID NO: 37) 5′-T*A*G*CTGCATTGTGTACA*G*A*T-3′ and (SEQ ID NO: 38) 5′-G*T*G*TATAATTCCTTGAT*G*A*A-3′. (In the sequences, * shows a portion modified into phosphorothioate.)

Examples of other modifications include PNA (peptide nucleic acids), LNA (Locked Nucleic Acids), ENA (2′-O, 4′-C-Ethylene-bridged Nucleic Acids; product of Sigma-Aldrich Corporation), Morpholino) and Oligo (product of Gene Tools LLC, OR, USA).

It is assumed that, by introducing the senseoligo the invention into a cell in which presence of antisense transcript of iNOS mRNA has been confirmed, the sense oligo reacts with the antisense transcript (hybridization) to thereby reduce the effective amount of the antisense transcripts in the cell. Therefore, by administering a sense oligo, the original expression amount of a gene product (iNOS) can be decreased to thereby suppress excessive production of NO.

EXAMPLES

The present invention is specifically described by way of Examples hereinbelow. The present invention is not limited to these Examples.

(1) Method for Determining a Sequence and Region (Base Length) of an Antisense Transcript Complementary to a Sequence of iNOS mRNA Example 1 Antisense Transcript of Rat iNOS

Examination was made on mRNAs of rat iNOS by the following method, as to whether or not “antisense transcript” transcribed from gene antisense chain was present. Studies were made on what role this “antisense transcript” played in controlling generation of gene products. The base sequences of the rat iNOS mRNAs are known as shown in DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank International Nucleotide Sequence Database (http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp/, http://www.ebi.ac.uk/embl/, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/).

In the 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) of mRNA of a gene causing inductive expression, such as cytokine and acute phase proteins, a sequence called AU-rich element (ARE), that is, a sequence of 5′-AUUUA-3′ or 5′-AUUUUA-3′ is present (see Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 83: 1670-1674 (1986)). Since ARE is also present in 3′ UTR of human, rat and mouse iNOS mRNAs, examination was made on whether or not an antisense transcript corresponding to 3′UTR containing the ARE (and having a sequence complementary) was present by chain-specific RT-PCR method. The method is a method of measuring an amount of mRNA after synthesizing complementary DNA (cDNA) through reverse transcription using a strand (chain)-specific primer such as oligo dT primer hybridizing only to mRNA and then amplifying cDNA by PCR method.

That is, by using the following primer of iNOS gene sense chain:

5′-TGCCCCTCCCCCACATTCTCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 2), RT-PCR was conducted on all the RNA of rat primary-cultured hepatocyte in which iNOS mRNAs were induced by adding IL-1β to the culture medium, to thereby synthesize cDNAs.

After mixing RNAs (1 μg) prepared from rat primary-cultured hepatocytes with 2 pmol primer, the mixture was heated at 70° C. for 10 minutes and then rapidly cooled to 0° C. To this, ReverTra Ace reaction buffer (manufactured by TOYOBO CO., LTD.), dNTP (N=A,C,G,T) (so that the final concentration is 1 mM), 20 units RNase inhibitor (manufactured by TOYOBO CO., LTD.) and 200 units of ReverTra Ace reverse transcription enzyme (manufactured by TOYOBO CO., LTD.) were added to thereby make the total amount 25 μl. The mixture was retained at 47° C. for 60 minutes to allow reverse transcription to proceed. Then, the mixture was heated at 70° C. for 15 minutes to thereby deactivate the reverse transcription enzymes. Next, 5 units of Tth RNase H (manufactured by TOYOBO CO., LTD.) were added and the mixture was heated at 37° C. for 20 minutes, to thereby decompose template RNAs. The synthesized cDNAs were collected through ethanol precipitation and dissolved in 20 μl of TE buffer.

To 2 μl of thus obtained cDNAs, PCR reaction buffer (manufactured by NIPPON GENE CO., LTD.), dNTP (N=A,C,G,T; manufactured by NIPPON GENE CO., LTD.) (so that the final concentration is 125 μM), the following two kinds of primers, forward primer 40 pmol and Reverse primer 40 pmol, 1 unit of Gene Taq DNA polymerase (manufactured by NIPPON GENE CO., LTD.) and anti-Taq high (=anti-Taq polymerase antibody, manufactured by TOYOBO CO., LTD.) were added, to thereby make the total amount 40 μl and further, PCR was conducted.

Forward direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 3) 5′-ACCAGGAGGCGCCATCCCGCTGC-3′ Reverse Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 4) 5′-CTTGATCAAACACTCATTTTATTAAA-3′

The temperature protocol for PCR was carried out according to a known method, that is, step-down method (see Nishizawa M, Nakajima T, Yasuda K, Kanzaki H, Sasaguri Y, Watanabe K, and Ito S. Close kinship of human 20a-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase gene with three aldo-keto reductase genes. Genes Cells (2000) 5, 111-125). Detection of the PCR product was performed by agarose gel electrophoresis and as a result, amplification of the band of 186 base pairs (bp) was observed.

This band was cut out of the gel and purified, and the base sequence was determined. It was confirmed that the sequence was a sequence of 3′UTR of rat iNOS mRNA sandwiched between the above primer sequences. That is, presence of antisense transcript was evidenced by chain-specific RT-PCR method using a sense primer of iNOS gene.

Further, in order to elucidate the whole structure of antisense transcript of iNOS gene, analysis attempts were made according to RACE method (see Frohman M A. Rapid amplification of complementary DNA ends for generation of full-length complementary DNAs: thermal RACE. Methods Enzymol. (1993) 218: 340-356). RACE method is a method of conducting reverse transcription by preparing a chain-specific primer from a known cDNA sequence and determining the sequences of 5′ and 3′ ends of the cDNA.

[Determination of 5′-Side Sequences of cDNA]

IL-1β was added to rat primary-cultured hepatocytes to thereby induce iNOS mRNAs and by using Trizol reagent (manufactured by Invitrogen Corporation), RNAs were prepared. By using the RNAs as templates and a primer of SEQ ID NO: 2 (sense (forward) primer of iNOS; 5′-TGCCCCTCCCCCACATTCTCT-3′), double-stranded cDNAs were synthesized. To the cDNAs, a CA cassette adapter (attachment to cDNA PCR Library Kit manufactured by TAKARA BIO INC.) was connected and then by using a primer of SEQ ID NO: 3 (sense (forward) primer for 3′UTR of iNOS mRNA) and CA primer (attachment to cDNA PCR Library Kit manufactured by TAKARA BIO INC.), PCR was conducted. The reaction solution was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and as a result, amplification of a band of about 250 bp size was observed. This band was cut out and subjected to cloning into pGEM-T Easy vector (manufactured by Promega Corporation), to thereby determine the base sequence.

[Determination of 3′-Side Sequences of cDNA]

From rat primary-cultured hepatocytes induced by IL-1β, RNAs were prepared in the same manner as described above. By using PolyATract mRNA Isolation System (manufactured by Promega Corporation), RNAs of PolyA⁻ fraction was refined and by using the RNAs as templates and a random primer having an anchor sequence (underlined) thereto (anchor random primer;

(SEQ ID NO: 5) 5′-TTCCCTCCCGTTTTCTCTGCCACTAGAATTCTCGAGCGGCCGC NNNNNNN-3′, double-stranded cDNAs were synthesized. To this cDNA, a CA cassette adapter was connected and then by using a primer of SEQ ID NO: 4 (antisense (reverse) primer for 3′-UTR of iNOS Mrna) and CA primer, PCR was conducted. The reaction solution was purified and used as template to perform a secondary PCR by using an antisense (reverse) primer for 3′-UTR of iNOS mRNA (5′-ATATTAGAGCAGCGGGATGGCGCCTC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 6)) and an anchor primer (5′-ACTAGAATTCTCGAGCGGCCGC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 7): a primer for the anchor sequence of the above “anchor random primer”). The reaction solution was subjected to agarose gel electrophoresis and as a result, amplification of a band of about 200 to 500 bp size was observed. This band was cut out and subjected to cloning into pGEM-T Easy vector, to thereby determine the base sequence.

As a result, the total length of the antisense transcript was estimated to be about 600 bases or more. The sequence is shown below. (SEQ ID NO: 1; shown as cDNA sequence) That is, the antisense transcript corresponded to 3′-UTR of iNOS mRNA and its transcriptional start site (5′ side) was on the complementary chain of a polyA-added site in the iNOS mRNA.

Example 2 Antisense Transcript of Human iNOS

By the following method, it was checked in a human iNOS mRNA whether or not “antisense transcript” transcribed from an antisense chain of a gene exists. The base sequences of human iNOS mRNAs have been made public by DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank International Nucleotide Sequence Data Base (http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp/, http://www.ebi.ac.uk/embl/ and http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/).

All RNAs were extracted from a human tissue (placenta, liver and gastric mucous membrane) or human cells (lymph cell not stimulated) according to a conventional method by using Trizol reagent (product of Invitrogen Corporation). The obtained all the RNAs were treated with TURBO DNA-free Kit (product of Applied Biosystems.) including DNase to thereby remove genomic DNAs mixed therein. With all the RNAs as templates, reverse transcription was conducted by using the following primer of a sense chain of human iNOS gene: 5′-CTGAGTGCACCACTTCAAGTGAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 8), to thereby synthesize cDNA. Specifically, cDNA was synthesized in the same manner as in Example 1 except that in place of 1 μg of RNA prepared from rat primary-cultured hepatocyte and 2 pmol of primer represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, all RNAs (1 μg) prepared from a human tissue or cell and the primer (2 pmol) represented by the above SEQ ID NO: 8 were used.

To 2 μl of thus obtained cDNAs, PCR reaction buffer (manufactured by NIPPON GENE CO., LTD.), dNTP (N=A,C,G,T; manufactured by NIPPON GENE CO., LTD.) (so that the final concentration could be 125 μM), the following two kinds of primers, forward primer 40 pmol and Reverse primer 40 pmol, 1 unit of Gene Taq DNA polymerase (manufactured by NIPPON GENE CO., LTD.) and anti-Taq high (=anti-Taq polymerase antibody, manufactured by TOYOBO CO., LTD.) # were added, to thereby make the total amount 40 μl and further, PCR was conducted.

Forward Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 9) 5′-CAGGAGGTGCTATCGCACCACT-3′ Reverse Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 10) 5′-GCAATTCATGTAAATATCTCCATC-3′

The PCR was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. Detection of the PCR product was performed by agarose gel electrophoresis and as a result, amplification of the band of 151 base pairs (bp) was observed in the case using cDNAs derived from human placenta. No amplification was observed in cases using other cDNAs (derived from liver, gastric mucous membrane and lymph cell not stimulated).

This amplified band was cut out of the gel and purified, and the base sequence was determined. It was confirmed that the sequence was a sequence complementary to of 3′UTR of human iNOS mRNA sandwiched between the above primer sequences. That is, presence of antisense transcript of human iNOS was evidenced by chain-specific RT-PCR method using a sense primer of iNOS gene. The sequence of human iNOS antisense transcript is shown as SEQ ID NO: 11, in terms of cDNA sequence.

Example 3 Antisense Transcript of Mouse iNOS

By the following method, it was checked in a mouse iNOS mRNA whether or not “antisense transcript” transcribed from an antisense chain of a gene exists. The base sequence of mouse iNOS mRNA has been made public by DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank International Nucleotide Sequence Database (http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp/, http://www.ebi.ac.uk/embl/ and http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/).

All RNAs were extracted from a RAW 264 cell according to a conventional method by using Trizol reagent (product of Invitrogen Corporation). All the obtained RNAs were treated with TURBO DNA-free Kit (product of Applied Biosystems.) including DNase to thereby remove genomic DNAs mixed therein. With all the RNAs as templates, reverse transcription was conducted by using the following primer of a sense chain of mouse iNOS gene: 5′-CCTTCTTCTCCACTCCCCAGCT-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 12), to thereby synthesize cDNAs. Specifically, cDNAs were synthesized in the same manner as in Example 1 except that in place of 1 μg of RNAs prepared from rat primary-cultured hepatocytes and 2 pmol of primer represented by SEQ ID NO: 2, all RNAs (1 μg) prepared from RAW 264 cells and the primer (2 pmol) represented by the above SEQ ID NO: 12 were used.

To 2 μl of thus obtained cDNAs, PCR reaction buffer (manufactured by NIPPON GENE CO., LTD.), dNTP (N=A,C,G,T; manufactured by NIPPON GENE CO., LTD.) (so that the final concentration could be 125 μM), the following two kinds of primers, forward primer 40 pmol and reverse primer 40 pmol, 1 unit of Gene Taq DNA polymerase (manufactured by NIPPON GENE CO., LTD.) and anti-Taq high (=anti-Taq polymerase antibody manufactured by TOYOBO CO., LTD.) # were added, to thereby make the total amount 40 μl and further, PCR was conducted.

Forward Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 13) 5′-GACCACCAGGAGGCACCATGCCG-3′ Reverse Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 14) 5′-ATACAGGAAAGGCCCAAGCCATC-3′

The PCR was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. Detection of the PCR product was performed by agarose gel electrophoresis and as a result, amplification of the band of 127 base pairs (bp) was observed.

This amplified band was cut out of the gel and purified, and the base sequence was determined. It was confirmed that the sequence was a sequence complementary to 3′UTR of mouse iNOS mRNA sandwiched between the above primer sequences. That is, presence of antisense transcript of mouse iNOS was evidenced by chain-specific RT-PCR method using a sense primer of iNOS gene. The sequence of mouse iNOS antisense transcript is shown as SEQ ID NO: 15, in terms of cDNA sequence.

(2) Stabilization of iNOS mRNA by Antisense Transcript Complementary to iNOS mRNA (Hereinafter, Simply Referred to as Antisense) Example 4 Stabilization of iNOS mRNA by Antisense Transcript of Rat iNOS

In order to clarify whether or not a rat antisense stabilizes iNOS mRNAs, a sense ologonucleotide of iNOS (hereinafter, simply referred to as sense oligo) having a sequence complementary to the antisense and having a property of hybridizing to the rat antisense) was introduced into rat primary-cultured hepatocyte and the amount of iNOS mRNA was measured. The sense oligo prevented decomposition of oligonucleotide caused by nucleolytic enzymes in the cell by substituting one of oxygen atoms in phosphoric acid in phosphodiester linkage with a sulfur atom (phosphorothioate). By using gene introduction reagent kit (MATra-A Reagent, manufactured by IBA GmbH (Gottingen, Germany)) according to Magnet assisted transfection method, the phosphorothioated sense oligo was introduced to rat primary-cultured hepatocyte.

Rat primary-cultured hepatocytes were prepared according to a known method (J. Hepatol. 40, 616-623, 2004) and sowed in a 6-hole plate (3×10⁵ cells per well). After 2 hours, the medium was changed to a new medium of 1.5 ml per well (Williams' E medium (WE) containing 10% fetal bovine serum, 10 nM dexamethasone and 10 nM insulin: hereinafter simply referred to WES-D1). Further after 4 hours, oligo (2 μg) and WE (200 μl) were mixed together. Then, 2 μl of MATra-A Reagent (manufactured by IBA GmbH) was blended therein and the mixture was left standing still at room temperature for 20 minutes. Then, all the amount of the mixture was added dropwise to wells containing hepatocytes. The 6-hole plate was placed on a magnetic disk (manufactured by IBA GmbH) and left standing still at room temperature for 15 minutes, to thereby introduce oligo into the cells. After changing the medium to a WE containing 10% fetal bovine serum (1.5 ml per well), it was left standing still overnight at 37° C. The next morning, after the medium was changed to a WE medium containing 1 nM IL-1β and left standing at 37° C. for 4 hours, all RNAs were prepared.

When hepatocyte is stimulated with IL-1β, the amount of iNOS mRNA remarkably increases. After the above phosphorothioated sense oligo was introduced to the hepatocyte and the cells were stimulated with IL-1β, the amount of mRNA was measured by RT-PCR method and real-time PCR method. The results are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The sense-chain sequences of iNOS gene used here, that is, phosphorothioated oligonucleotide having the same sequence as that of the iNOS mRNA, are shown by the following sequences. In the experiments, the sequences correspond to S2, S4 and S5 respectively.

(SEQ ID NO: 36) S2: 5′-G*C*C*TCATACTTCCTCAG*A*G*C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 37) S4: 5′-T*A*G*CTGCATTGTGTACA*G*A*T-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 38) S5: 5′-G*T*G*TATAATTCCTTGAT*G*A*A-3′ (phosphorothioated sites are shown with “*”.)

On the other hand, as a negative control, “scramble oligo”, which had been confirmed to have the same base composition as the iNOs mRNA but have a different sequence and not to hybridize to iNOS mRNA, its transcript or other RNAs, was introduced. The sequences of the scramble oligos are shown below.

(SEQ ID NO: 39) Scr2:5′-G*G*T*ATTGCCCACCCAAC*T*C*T-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 40) Scr4:5′-G*G*C*TCCATATGATTAGA*T*G*T-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 41) Scr5:5′-G*A*T*TGTTACTTAGAGAC*T*A*T-3′

These scramble oligos, like sense oligo, were used after phosphorothioated for the purpose of preventing decomposition in the cells. In terms of “scramble oligo”, it was confirmed through homology search with rat genome that there were no analogous sequences.

Further, as another negative control, a phosphorothioate sense oligonucleotide S1 for stem portion of stem-loop structure of iNOS mRNA was introduced. The sequence of S1 is shown below. S1:5′-C*A*T*TCTCTTTCCTTTGC*C*T*C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 42) (“*” means the same meaning as above described.)

If chain-specific PCR method is performed by using a primer having the same sequence as the sequence of a sense chain (a chain having the same sequence as the sequence of mRNA), only cDNA against “antisense transcript” is reverse-transcribed and therefore, the amount of “antisense transcript” can be measured By preparing a control on which PCR was carried out without reverse transcription, it was confirmed that genomes got mixed in all RNAs of hepatocytes were not amplified by PCR. In the Figure, it was shown as RT(−).

As a result, in a case where phosphorothioated sense oligos of S2, S4 and S5 were introduced, the amount of iNOS mRNAs was decreased. This is because phosphorothioated sense oligo was hybridized to antisense transcript of iNOS to thereby decompose antisense transcripts, showing that iNOS mRNAs were also decomposed. On the other hand, in a case scramble oligo was introduced, there was no significant change in the amount of iNOS mRNA. Also, in a case where S1 corresponding to a stem portion was introduced, there was no significant change in the amount of iNOS mRNA.

In a case where sense oligo S5 or scramble oligo Scr 5 was introduced into a hepatocyte, the amount of iNOS mRNAs after adding IL-1β was measured by real-time PCR with cDNA prepared through reverse transcription being used as templates. As a result, in a case where scramble oligo Scr 5 was introduced, it took 119 minutes to double the amount of iNOS mRNAs while in case of sense oligo S5, it took 461 minutes. (See FIG. 2.)

Like iNOS, CINC1 (cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant 1) causes remarkable induction of mRNA in hepatocyte under stimulation by IL-1β. Moreover, also in mRNA 3′-untranslated region (3′UTR) of CINC1, an ARE sequence exists, like in iNOS mRNA. When iNOS sense oligo was introduced into hepatocyte and the amount of mRNA of CINC1 was measured, there was no difference in the mRNA amount as compared with a case where no sense oligo was introduced. That is, it showed that action of iNOS sense oligo was limited to iNOS.

Based on all the results, it was shown that the iNOS sense oligo, which hybridized specifically to iNOS antisense transcript to thereby promote decomposition of iNOS mRNA, specifically decreased the iNOS mRNA amount.

Example 5 Stabilization of iNOS mRNA by Antisense Transcript of Mouse iNOS

A phosphorothioate sense oligo of iNOS sense oligonucleotide having a property of being hybridized to mouse antisense was introduced into RAW 264 cells derived from mouse macrophage and observation was made on iNOS-expression suppressing action of mouse antisense transcript.

The procedures not described below were carried out in the same manner as in Example 4. Mouse RAW 264 cells were sown 5×10⁵ cells per well, DMEM medium was changed and the cells were cultured in a constant-temperature CO₂ incubator.

By Magnet assisted transfection method of IBA GmbH (Gottingen, Germany), a phosphorothioate sense oligo was introduced into RAW 264 cells. After changing the medium to a DMEM medium containing 10% bovine fetal serum (1.5 ml per well), the cells were left standing overnight at 37° C. On the next morning, the medium was changed to a DMEM medium containing Escherichia coli Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) (1 μg/mg), and the cells were left standing for 4 hours at 37° C. Then, all the obtained RNAs were extracted and subjected to RT-PCR. The obtained all the RNAs were treated with TURBO DNA-free Kit (product of Applied Biosystems.) including DNase to thereby remove genomic DNAs mixed therein.

The sense oligo was prepared for mouse iNOS mRNA corresponding to mouse antisense transcript.

The sequence of mouse iNOS gene sense chain used herein, that is, a phosphorothioate oligonucleotide having the same sequence as iNOS mRNA, can be shown by the following sequences. In the experiments, the sequences correspond to S1, S2 and S3.

(SEQ ID NO: 43) S1:5′-G*A*A*GCACTTTGGGTGAC*C*A*C-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 44) S2:5′-T*A*G*CTGCACTATGTACA*G*A*T-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 45) S3:5′-C*A*G*ATATTTATACTTCA*T*A*T-3′ (phosphorothioated sites are shown with “*”.)

The amount of mouse iNOS mRNA was measured according to chain-specific RT-PCR as conducted in Example 4.

As a result, the amount of mouse iNOS RNA was decreased. This shows that a phosphorothioate sense oligo was hybridized to iNOS antisense transcript to thereby decompose or compete against the antisense transcript and also decompose iNOS mRNA (FIG. 3).

[Conclusion Based on Examples 1 to 5]

From the results of Examples 4 and 5, it is shown that not only in case of rat but also in case of mouse, iNOS sense oligo can promote decomposition of iNOS mRNA and then reduce specifically the amount of iNOS mRNA by hybridizing specifically to iNOS antisense transcript.

Thus, expression of iNOS mRNA could be suppressed by using sense oligonucleotide both in rat hepatocyte and in mouse cell. Accordingly, suppression of iNOS mRNA expression by using sense oligonucleotide, which leads to reduction in iNOS induction and NO production at the time of hepatic inflammation, can be said to be an effective method for treating hepatic disorders.

(3) Method for Determining a Sequence and Region (Base Length) of an Antisense Transcript Complementary to mRNA of Early Response Gene Other than iNOS Gene

Genes induced to express at the time of inflammation (so-called “early response gene”) include not only iNOS but also genes of physiologically active substances such as cytokine and chemokine. These early response genes participate in various actions such as exacerbation or improvement of inflammation. Controlling expression of early response genes eventually leads to controlling inflammation. Given this, other than antisense transcript of iNOS gene, investigation on other early response genes was made as to whether or not antisense transcript was expressed. Next, a presumption was made that antisense transcript of the 3′UTR sequence with high interspecific conservation, containing two or more ARE sequences, was expressed. Then, with respect to this portion, a sense primer for reverse transcription and a pair of primers for PCR were designed. Then, by carrying out chain-specific RT-PCR method on this portion as in Example 4 using rat iNOS gene where antisense transcript was detected, it was checked whether or not antisense transcript was expressed in rat hepatocyte.

Among early response genes other than iNOS gene, three typical types of genes containing two or more ARE sequences in the 3′UTR, with the 3′UTR sequences being analogous to each other between species (human, mouse and rat), were used as examples. Those are the following three genes.

-   (a) Cytokine-Induced Neutrophil Chemoattractant 1 (CINC-1): This is     also called Chemokine (C-X-C motif) Ligand 1 (CXCL1), which is     chemokine induced in rat hepatocyte stimulated by IL-1β. -   (b) NF-κB p50: This is one of subunits of transcription factor     NF-κB, which is a protein deeply involved in inflammation. -   (c) IκB-α: This is a protein suppressing activities of NF-κB.

The mRNA base sequences of these genes human, mouse and rat genes are known as published in DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank International Nucleotide Database (http://www.ddbj.nig.ac.jp/, http://www.ebi.ac.uk/embl/, http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Genbank/).

Example 6 Rat CINC-1 Antisense Transcript

By the following method, investigation on mRNA of rat CINC-1 was made as to whether or not “antisense transcript” existed. The procedures not described below were carried out in the same manner as in Example 1.

All RNAs were extracted from rat primary-cultured hepatocyte according to a conventional method by using Trizol reagent (product of Invitrogen Corporation) after stimulating the hepatocyte with IL-1β. The obtained all the RNAs were treated with TURBO DNA-free Kit (product of Applied Biosystems.) including DNase to thereby remove genomic DNAs mixed therein. With all the RNAs as templates, reverse transcription was conducted by using the following primer of a sense chain of rat CINC-1 gene:

(SEQ ID NO: 16) 5′-TGTCTGGTGAACGCTGGCTTCTGA-3′ to thereby synthesize cDNA.

Step-down PCR was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, by using the obtained cDNA and the following two kinds of primers of sense chain of rat CINC-1 gene:

Forward Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 17) 5′-TGTGGATGCGTTTCATCGATGGT-3′ Reverse Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 18) 5′-CTAGCACAGTGGTTGACACTTA-3′.

As a result of subjecting the PCR product to agarose gel electrophoresis, amplification of the band of 122 base pairs (bp) was observed. This amplified band was cut out of the gel and purified, and the base sequence was determined. It was confirmed that it was a sequence of 3′UTR of rat CINC-1 mRNA sandwiched between the above primer sequences. That is, presence of antisense transcript of rat CINC-1 gene was evidenced by chain-specific RT-PCR method using a sense primer of iNOS gene. The sequence of rat CINC-1 gene antisense transcript is shown as SEQ ID NO: 19, in terms of cDNA sequence.

Example 7 Rat NF-κB p50 Antisense Transcript

By the following method, investigation on mRNA of rat NF-κB p50 was made as to whether or not “antisense transcript” which had been transcribed from an antisense chain of a gene existed. The procedures not described below were carried out in the same manner as in Example 6.

All RNAs were extracted from rat primary-cultured hepatocyte according to a conventional method by using Trizol reagent (product of Invitrogen Corporation) after stimulating the hepatocyte with IL-1β. The obtained all the RNAs were treated with TURBO DNA-free Kit (product of Applied Biosystems.) including DNase to thereby remove genomic DNAs mixed therein. With all the RNAs as templates, reverse transcription was conducted by using the following primer of a sense chain of rat NF-κB p50 gene: 5′-CTGTCATTAAGGTATCGCAGTCC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 20). to thereby synthesize cDNA.

Step-down PCR was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, by using the obtained cDNA and the following two kinds of primers of sense chain of rat NF-κB p50 gene:

Forward Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 21) 5′-CATCTACAGTACAGTCATGCACTC-3′ Reverse Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 22) 5′-GGGAAAATACTATTTTCAGCACTGAT-3′.

As a result of subjecting the PCR product to agarose gel electrophoresis, amplification of the band of 192 base pairs (bp) was observed. This amplified band was cut out of the gel and purified, and the base sequence was determined. It was confirmed that it was a sequence of 3′UTR of rat NF-κB p50 mRNA sandwiched between the above primer sequences. That is, presence of antisense transcript of rat NF-κB p50 gene was evidenced by chain-specific RT-PCR method using a sense primer of iNOS gene. The sequence of rat NF-κB p50 gene antisense transcript is shown as SEQ ID NO: 23, in terms of cDNA sequence.

Example 8 Rat IκB-α Antisense Transcript

By the following method, investigation on mRNA of rat IκB-α was made as to whether or not “antisense transcript” which had been transcribed from an antisense chain of a gene existed. The procedures not described below were carried out in the same manner as in Example 6.

All RNAs were extracted from rat primary-cultured hepatocyte according to a conventional method by using Trizol reagent (product of Invitrogen Corporation) after stimulating the hepatocyte with IL-1β. The obtained all the RNAs were treated with TURBO DNA-free Kit (product of Applied Biosystems.) including DNase to thereby remove genomic DNAs mixed therein. With all the RNAs as templates, reverse transcription was conducted by using the following primer of a sense chain of rat IκB-α gene: 5′-TCCAGAATCTGATAAAAGGACCAC-3′ (SEQ ID NO: 24), to thereby synthesize cDNAs.

Step-down PCR was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1, by using the obtained cDNA and the following two kinds of primers of sense chain of rat IκB-α gene:

Forward Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 25) 5′-TGAACCGCCATAGACTGTAGCTG-3′ Reverse Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 26) 5′-GCACATACCACTGAACACCTGGT-3′.

As a result of subjecting the PCR product to agarose gel electrophoresis, amplification of the band of 102 base pairs (bp) was observed. This amplified band was cut out of the gel and purified, and the base sequence was determined. It was confirmed that it was a sequence of 3′UTR of rat IκB-α mRNA sandwiched between the above primer sequences. That is, presence of antisense transcript of rat IκB-α gene was evidenced by chain-specific RT-PCR method using a sense primer of iNOS gene. The sequence of rat IκB-α gene antisense transcript is shown as SEQ ID NO: 27, in terms of cDNA sequence.

[Conclusion Based on Examples 6 to 8]

As early response genes other than iNOS gene which are expressed at the time of inflammation, three typical genes (CINC-1, NF-κB p50, IκB-α) were selected. All the genes contains two or more ARE sequences in the 3′UTR and the 3′UTR sequences are analogous to each other between the species (human, mouse and rat). As in the case of iNOS, expression of antisense transcripts was confirmed with respect to the three genes.

Based on the above fact, it is assumed that antisense transcripts are molecules common to early response genes containing ARE sequences and 3′UTR sequences analogous to each other between species. Moreover, it is strongly suggested that antisense transcripts probably control stability of the mRNAs. Therefore, it is expected to suppress inflammation by controlling actions of antisense transcripts of early response genes at the time of liver inflammation or the like.

(4) Expression Induction of iNOS and Antisense Transcript In Vivo in Case of Using Rat Model of Acute Hepatic Failure and an Effect of a Liver Protecting Agent (IGF-I & FR183998) for Suppressing Expression Induction of Antisense Transcript

The results of Examples 1 and 4 showed that in the system of rat primary-cultured hepatocyte (in vitro), an antisense transcript corresponding to the 3′-untranslated region (3′-UTR) of iNOS mRNA was expressed at the time of inducing iNOS, to promote stabilization of iNOS mRNA. It is also shown below that in rat liver injury model (in vivo), an iNOS antisense transcript (in vivo) was expressed in response to iNOS induction. Further, relationship between changes in survival rate when liver protecting agent such as Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger inhibitor (FR183998) is administered and inflammatory cytokines, iNOS mRNA and induction of antisense transcripts is shown below.

Example 9 (I) Preparation of Acute Hepatic Failure Model and Administration of Liver Protecting Agent

To male Sprague-Dawley rats (250-300 g), a mixture liquid (D-GalN/LPS) of D-galactosamine (400 g/kg) and LPS (16 μg/kg) which is bacterial endotoxin was intravenously-administered to thereby prepare acute hepatic failure models. Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I; 3.2 mg/kg) or Na⁺/H⁺ exchanger inhibitor (FR183998; 1 mg/kg) was administered 30 minutes before treatment with D-GalN/LPS. Inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ, CINC-1), MIP-2 and nitrogen monoxide in the blood and in the liver were measured. All RNAs were prepared from the liver and iNOS mRNA and iNOS antisense transcript were examined by RT-PCR.

(II) Analysis of RNA

3 or 6 hours after a mixture liquid of D-galactosamine and LPS was intravenously-administered, rat livers were taken out and all RNAs were extracted according to a conventional method by using Trizol reagent (product of Invitrogen Corporation).

With all the RNAs as templates, reverse transcription was conducted by using an oligo dT primer. Then, PCR (RT-PCR method) was carried out in the same manner as in Example 1. In quantitative determination of iNOS mRNA, elongation factor-1α (EF1) mRNA serving as internal standard, oligo dT primer was used in reverse transcription and in PCR,

iNOSmRNA:

(SEQ ID NO: 28) CCAACCTGCAGGTCTTCGATG and (SEQ ID NO: 29) GTCGATGCACAACTGGGTGAAC, EFmRNA:

(SEQ ID NO: 30) TCTGGTTGGAATGGTGACAACATGC and (SEQ ID NO: 31) CCAGGAAGAGCTTCACTCAAAGCTT were used. To the PCR reaction solution, anti-Taq high (=anti-Taq polymerase antibody; product of TOYOBO CO., LTD.) was added.

Quantitative determination of iNOS antisense transcripts was made according to the method of Example 1. By using a control on which PCR was carried out without reverse transcription, it was confirmed that genomes mixed in all RNAs in liver cells were not amplified by PCR. Results of detecting iNOS mRNA were shown in FIG. 4 and results of detecting iNOS antisense transcripts were shown in FIG. 5. In the Figures, RT (−) indicates a negative control of reverse transcription (−).

(III) Quantitative Determination of mRNA and Antisense Transcripts by Real-Time PCR

Quantitative determination of the cDNAs synthesized through reverse transcription was made by real-time PCR using iCycler System of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. To the PCR reaction solution, SYBR Green I (product of Roche Diagnostics K.K.) and anti-Taq high (anti-Taq polymerase antibody, manufactured by TOYOBO CO., LTD.) were added, and touchdown PCR, a known method, was carried out. The actually employed PCR protocols were as follows.

1 cycle (94° C., 1 min),

50 cycles (94° C., 30 sec; (72-0.3×n) ° C., 1 min; 72° C., 30 sec); n is the number of cycles. The results are shown in FIG. 6. In the Figures, “*” indicates “p<0.05 vs. GalN/LPS rat (n=3-6 rat/group)”.

(IV) Changes in Amounts of iNOS mRNA and iNOS Antisense Transcripts Due to Liver Protecting Agent

In a case where liver protecting agent was not administered, most (more than 90%) of the animals died within about 24 hours after D-GalN/LPS was intravenously-administered. In the blood and the liver, inflammatory mediators (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, interferon-γ, CINC-1, MIP-2, NO) had been increased with time (in 1 to 12 hours). In response to iNOS mRNA induction in the liver, the amount of antisense transcripts showed increase (both the amounts of iNOS mRNAs and antisense transcripts were at their maximum points at 6 hours after the administration and as a result, excessive NO production was observed.

By administration of IGF-I, the death rate was decreased to a range of 20-30% or less. Further, increase in the above-described inflammatory cytokines and production of NO as well as iNOS mRNAs and antisense transcript induction was suppressed (FIGS. 4 to 6).

By administration of FR183998, the death rate was decreased to a range of 20-30% or less. Further, increase in the above-described inflammatory cytokines and production of NO as well as iNOS mRNAs and antisense transcript induction was suppressed (FIGS. 7 to 9).

(IV-1) Effect of Liver Protecting Agent IGF-I on Expression Induction of iNOS mRNAs and Antisense Transcrpts in Rat Model of Acute Hepatic Failure

In the results of FIG. 4, in rats to which D-galactosamine and LPS were administered (GalN/LPS rats), iNOS mRNA level was increased in 3 to 6 hours while in rats to which IGF-I was administered, such an increase was suppressed.

Based on the results of FIGS. 5 and 6 where almost no cDNAs amplified in RT(−) was observed, it can be assumed that the amount of genomic DNAs got mixed in all the RNAs was extremely small. In GalN/LPS rats, the level of antisense transcripts was increased in 3 to 6 hours while such an increase was suppressed in rats to which IGF-I was administered.

(IV-2) Effect of Liver Protecting Agent FR183998 on Expression Induction of iNOS mRNAs and Antisense Transcrpts in Rat Model of Acute Hepatic Failure

In the results of FIG. 7, in GalN/LPS rats, iNOS mRNA level was increased in 3 to 6 hours while in rats to which FR183998 was administered, such an increase was suppressed.

Based on the results of FIGS. 8 and 9 where almost no cDNAs amplified in RT(−) was observed, it can be assumed that the amount of genomic DNAs got mixed in all the RNAs was extremely small. In GalN/LPS rats, the level of antisense transcripts was increased in 3 to 6 hours while such an increase was suppressed in rats to which FR183998 was administered.

(5) Effect of Sense Oligo in Rat Hepatocytes (Changes in Amounts of iNOS Proteins and Nitrogen Monoxide (NO)) Example 10

In the same manner as in Example 4, sense oligo S5 or scramble oligo Scr 5 obtained in Example 4 was introduced into hepatocytes and the amount of nitrogen monoxide in the medium was measured by using Nitric Oxide Colorimetric Assay kits (product of Roche Diagnostics K.K.). The measurement was made after the medium was changed to a WE medium containing 1 nm IL-1β on the next morning and left standing at 37° C. for 8 to 10 hours. Also, all the proteins were extracted from the cells and iNOS proteins were detected by Western method using ECL Kit (product of GE Healthcare UK Ltd.). The results are shown in FIG. 10.

As a result, it was shown that by introducing sense oligo S5 into rat hepatocytes, the amounts of iNOS proteins and nitrogen monoxide in the medium were decreased.

(6) Detection of iNOS Antisense Transcripts by Northern Method Example 11

It was confirmed by Northern blot analysis (hereinafter, simply referred to as “Northern method”) that antisense transcripts of iNOS genes were present in rat hepatocytes simulated by IL-1β.

(I) Preparation of RNA

After rat hepatocytes were stimulated by IL-1β for a certain period of time, all RNAs were extracted by using Trizol reagent (manufactured by Invitrogen Corporation). The obtained all the RNAs were treated with TURBO DNA-free Kit (product of Applied Biosystems.) including DNase to thereby remove genomic DNAs mixed therein. Poly(A)+ RNAs and poly(A)− RNAs were fractionated with PolyATract mRNA Isolation System (product of Promega Corporation). In order to prevent nonspecific hybridization, ribosome RNAs (rRNAs) were precipitated in the presence of polyethylene glycol 6000 of final concentration of 5% and NaCl of a final concentration of 0.75 M, to thereby be removed. The supernatant was recovered by ethanol precipitation and used in electrophoresis.

(II) Northern Method/Electrophoresis

The above RNAs, that is, the four types of RNAs, all RNAs of non-stimulated rat hepatocytes, all RNAs of rat hepatocytes stimulated by IL-1β, Poly(A)+ RNAs of rat hepatocytes stimulated by IL-1β and Poly(A)− RNAs of rat hepatocytes stimulated by IL-1β were subjected to electrophoresis with 2.2M formalin-containing agarose and isolated.

(III) Northern Method: Hybridization

According to a conventional method, RNAs in the gel were transferred to Nytran N Filter (product of Whatman PLC.). Next, in DIG EasyHyb buffer (product of Roche Diagnostics K.K.), hybridization to digoxigenin (DIG)-labeled sense probe for iNOS 3′UTR was conducted at 73° C. overnight. On the next morning, according to the manual of Roche Diagnostics K.K., the filter was washed. The sense probe for iNOS 3′UTR used here had been prepared through synthesis of RNAs in a test tube by using DIG-11-UTP (product of Roche Diagnostics K.K.) and T3 RNA polymerase (product of Stratagene).

(IV) Northern Method: Detection

According to the manual of Roche Diagnostics K.K., blocking was carried out to thereby incubate with anti-DIG antibodies (product of Roche Diagnostics K.K.) conjugated to alkaline phosphatase. After washing, the resultant was reacted with CDP-Star substrate (product of Applied Biosystems.) and bands of RNAs hybridizing to iNOS sense probe were detected through X-ray film.

(V) Results and Consideration

The results of analysis on the 4 kinds of RNAs by Northern method are shown in FIG. 11 (X-ray autoradiogram).

In “all RNAs of rat hepatocyts stimulated by IL-1β” and “Poly(A)−RNAs of rat hepatocyts stimulated by IL-1β”, smear-like dark bands of 600 to 1000 nucleotides (nt) were observed. Since sense probe for iNOS 3′UTR was used, these smear-like bands can be considered to be bands of iNOS antisense transcripts. Therefore, it was found out that the lengths of iNOS anti transcripts were not constant, varying from 600 to 1000 nucleotides.

Based on combination of results of RACE and results of ribonuclease protection assay, as shown in FIG. 12, it was assumed that iNOS antisense transcripts had been synthesized. In the Figure, the dotted line indicates that antisense transcripts of various sizes of 600 nucleotides or more were produced. The numbers in the boxes in the Figure refer to exon numbers of iNOS genes, the black parts are protein translated regions, and the white box is 3′UTR at exon 27. The mRNA of iNOS is shown in the upper part of the Figure.

(7) mRNA Stabilizatition by Excessive Expression of iNOS Antisense Transcripts Example 12

It was confirmed that mRNAs were stabilized through iNOS 3′UTR by excessive expression of iNOS antisense transcripts in rat hepatocytes.

In a case of a normal reporter, a luciferase gene is connected to an iNOS gene promoter. Since an iNOS gene promoter is “inducible promoter”, promoter activity is drastically changed by IL-1β stimulation in rat hepatocytes and it is difficult to observe how the 3′ UTR connected behind the reporter gene acts. Therefore, we decided to use a promoter of elongation factor-1α (EF) gene which is a constitutive promoter promoting a constant amount of expression irrespective of stimulation. This, luciferase genes and β-galactosidase genes, controlled by the EF promoter, are expressed in almost constant amounts, irrespective of stimulated or not. By this, observation can be made focusing on influence of iNOS mRNA 3′UTR containing a poly(A) signal sequence on stability of luciferase mRNA.

The following three kinds of vectors were constructed based on pGL3-Basic plasmid (product of Promega Corporation). The outline of the constructed vectors is shown in FIG. 13.

(i) reporter (luciferase vector):

-   -   EF promoter+luciferase gene (Luc)+iNOS 3′UTR     -   EF promoter+luciferase gene (Luc)+SVpA     -   (Luciferase mRNAs are constitutively-expressed and stability of         mRNAs can be controlled by the terminal region of luciferase         gene.)         (ii) vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts:     -   CMV promoter+iNOS 3′UTR inserted in the reverse direction+SVpA     -   (iNOS antisense transcripts are excessively expressed in the         cells.)         (iii) internal standard (β-galactosidase vector):     -   EF promoter+β-galactosidase (lacZ) gene+SVpA (β-galactosidase         mRNAs are constitutively-expressed.)

“SVpA” is a poly(A) signal sequence derived from SV40 virus, known as stable 3′UTR, and an mRNA having SVpA added thereto is not easily destroyed. A CMV promoter which is a control against iNOS 3′UTR, is derived from cytomegalovirus and is a constitutive promoter much stronger than an EF promoter.

When the plasmids of (i) and (iii) are introduced into rat hepatocytes simultaneously, the synthesis amounts of luciferase mRNA (Luc) and β-galactosidase mRNA (βGal) are almost constant, since the EF promoter is constitutive. Moreover, if there is a difference in the amounts between a case where vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts (ii) is added and a case where not added, there must be a difference in Luc mRNA/μGal mRNA (Luc/μGal values). If the Luc/βGal varies depending on the presence of the vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts, it leads to a conclusion that excessive expression of iNOS antisense transcripts affected stability of luciferase mRNAs through iNOS 3′UTR.

[Method]

(I) Transfection

Into primary-cultured rat hepatocytes, the following plasmids were introduced according to the above-described method (MATra).

(i) reporter (400 ng/well),

±(ii) vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts (50 ng/well),

(iii) internal standard (400 ng/well)

Those having vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts introduced therein is referred to as AS(+) and those not having it introduced therein as AS(−).

(II) Preparation of RNA

The medium of hepatocytes was changed after one night after transfection and then all RNAs were extracted time serially. The extraction was conducted by using Trizol reagent (manufactured by Invitrogen Corporation) and all the obtained RNAs were treated according to a conventional method. The obtained all the RNAs were treated with TURBO DNA-free Kit (product of Applied Biosystems.) including DNase to thereby remove genomic DNAs mixed therein. With all the RNAs as templates, reverse transcription was conducted by using an oligo (dT) primer to thereby synthesize cDNAs for mRNAs.

(III) Quantitative Determination of mRNAs by Real-Time PCR

With the thus synthesized cDNAs, quantitative determination was made by real-time PCR. Here, iCycler System of Bio-Rad Laboratories, Inc. was used. To the PCR reaction liquid, SYBR Green I (product of Roche Diagnostics K.K.) and anti-Taq high (=anti-Taq polymerase antibody, manufactured by TOYOBO CO., LTD.) were added and touchdown PCR, a known method, was carried out. The actually employed PCR protocols were as follows.

1 cycle (94° C., 1 min),

50 cycles (94° C., 30 sec; (72−0.3×n)° C., 1 min; 72° C., 30 sec); n is the number of cycles.

The primers used in PCR of reporter luciferase (Luc) mRNA are the following two types.

Forward Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 32) 5′-GCGAAGGTTGTGGATCTGGATAC-3′ Reverse Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 33) 5′-GAGCCACCTGATAGCCTTTGTAC-3′

The primers used in PCR of internal standard_(. . .) β-galactosidase (βGal) mRNA are the following two types.

Forward Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 34) 5′-GTCACACTACGTCTGAACGTCGA-3′ Reverse Direction:

(SEQ ID NO: 35) 5′-TGCAGAGGATGATGCTCGTGACG-3′

After real-time PCR was carried out, threshold cycle (Ct) values of luciferase mRNA (Luc) and β-galactosidasemRNA (βGal) were calculated by using iCycler system analysis software and the values were divided to obtain a Luc/βGal value._(. . .)

[Results]

Time-serial Luc/β-Gal values in cases including or not including addition of vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts were calculated and the results are shown in FIG. 14.

(i) reporter (EF promoter+Luc+iNOS 3′UTR),

±(ii) vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts

(iii) internal standard

In the cases, when AS (+) of cases including addition of vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts is compared with AS(−) of cases not including addition of vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts, the Luc/β-Gal value was significantly increased. In the Figure, “**” indicates “p<0.01 versus AS(−)”. That is, iNOS antisense transcripts stabilized luciferase mRNAs via iNOS 3′UTR.

As a control, the results of a case using an SVpA-connected reporter are shown in FIG. 15.

(i) reporter (EF promoter+Luc+SVpA),

±(ii) vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts

(iii) internal standard.

In the cases, when AS (+) (cases including addition of vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts) is compared with AS(−) (cases not including addition of vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts), the Luc/βGal value was not increased. That is, SVpA had no influence on stabilization of mRNAs.

[Significance]

Based on the above results (experiments on excessive expression of iNOS antisense transcripts), it can be assumed that iNOS antisense transcripts act on iNOS 3′UTR to thereby stabilize mRNAs. Based on the above combined with the results of iNOS mRNA knockdown experiments using phosphorothioate sense oligonucleotide, iNOS antisense transcripts can be said to stabilize iNOS mRNAs via iNOS 3′UTR.

Accordingly, it is strongly suggested that the mechanism of iNOS mRNA stability control by iNOS antisense transcripts plays a significant role at the time of liver inflammation or the like. Also, the mechanism can be a target treatment for many diseases related to NO.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

By administration of liver protecting agent, induction of iNOS mRNA and antisense transcripts was suppressed. The above results strongly suggest that antisense transcripts are involved (in vivo) as a factor controlling expression induction of iNOS mRNAs. It is assumed that the antisense transcript expression control by use of liver protecting agent reduces iNOS induction and NO production at the time of liver inflammation or the like and can be an effective treatment method for hepatic disorders.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an electrophoretogram showing measurement results of mRNA amounts in rat hepatocytes by RT-PCR method.

FIG. 2 is a graph showing measurement results of mRNA amounts in rat hepatocytes by real-time PCR method.

FIG. 3 is an electrophoretogram showing that iNOS mRNAs were decomposed by mouse iNOS antisense transcripts.

FIG. 4 is an electrophoretogram showing results of detecting iNOS mRNAs by chain-specific RT-PCR method, which shows that increase of iNOS mRNAs in rats to which liver protecting agent (IGF-I) was administered was suppressed.

FIG. 5 shows results of detecting iNOS antisense transcripts (an electrophoretogram) by chain-specific RT-PCR method, which shows that increase of iNOS antisense transcripts in rats to which liver protecting agent (IGF-I) was administered was suppressed.

FIG. 6 is a graph showing results of quantitative determination of increase of iNOS antisense transcripts by real-time PCR method in rats to which liver protecting agent (IGF-I) was administered. In the Figure, “*” indicates “p<0.05 vs. GalN/LPSrat (n=3-6 rats/group).

FIG. 7 is an electrophoretogram showing results of detecting iNOS mRNAs by chain-specific RT-PCR method, which shows that increase of iNOS mRNAs in rats to which liver protecting agent (FR183998) was administered was suppressed.

FIG. 8 shows results of detecting iNOS antisense transcripts (an electrophoretogram) by chain-specific RT-PCR method, which shows that increase of iNOS antisense transcripts in rats to which liver protecting agent ((FR183998) was administered was suppressed.

FIG. 9 is a graph showing results of quantitative determination of increase of iNOS antisense transcripts by real-time PCR method in rats to which liver protecting agent (FR183998) was administered. In the Figure, “*” indicates “p<0.05 vs. GalN/LPS rat (n=3-6 rats/group).

FIG. 10 shows an electrophoretogram and a graph showing results of measuring the amounts of iNOS proteins and nitrogen monoxide in the medium in Example 10.

FIG. 11 is an X-ray film autoradiogram showing the analysis results on the four types of RNAs by Northern method in Example 11. From the left, there are shown the results of “all RNAs of non-stimulated rat hepatocytes”, “all RNAs of rat hepatocyts stimulated by IL-1β”, “Poly(A)⁺ RNAs of rat hepatocyts stimulated by IL-1β”, “Poly(A)⁻ RNAs of rat hepatocyts stimulated by IL-1β”.

FIG. 12 shows the results of RACE and ribonuclease protection assay in Example 11.

FIG. 13 shows the outline of vectors constructed in Example 12.

FIG. 14 is a graph showing Luc/μGal values changing with time in cases where the vector for expressing iNOS antisense transcripts was added (AS(+)) and cases without adding the vector (AS(−)) in Example 12.

FIG. 15 is a graph showing Luc/μGal values changing with time in a case as control where SVpA-connected reporter was used in Example 12. 

The invention claimed is:
 1. A sense oligonucleotide, wherein said sense oligonucleotide is a single-stranded DNA oligonucleotide which comprises a sequence complementary to human iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) mRNA antisense transcript, wherein said sequence complementary to human iNOS mRNA antisense transcript is complementary to at least 16 contiguous nucleotides of SEQ ID NO: 11, and wherein said sense oligonucleotide contains one or more non-naturally occurring modifications which stabilize the oligonucleotide against decomposition by a nucleolytic enzyme.
 2. The sense oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein said sequence complementary to human iNOS mRNA antisense transcript is complementary to a thermodynamically unstable loop structure in said human iNOS mRNA antisense transcript.
 3. The sense oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein said oligonucleotide is 16-335 bases in length.
 4. The sense oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein the stabilization is performed by at least one modification selected from the group consisting of phosphorothioate, LNA, PNA, ENA, and morpholino.
 5. A composition comprising the sense oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein said composition has an activity of suppressing production of NO by promoting decomposition of iNOS mRNA.
 6. A method of controlling production of the amount of iNOS, comprising introducing the sense oligonucleotide according to claim 1 into a cell.
 7. The sense oligonucleotide according to claim 1, wherein said sense oligonucleotide consists of a nucleotide sequence complementary to a non-stem region in a stem-loop structure of human iNOS (inducible nitric oxide synthase) mRNA antisense transcript. 